Plug-actuating device for ladles



Feb. 27; 1968 o. PUHRINGER 3,370,824

PLUG-ACTUATING DEVICE FOR LADLES Filed Aug. 2, 1965 INVENTOR 0TH MAR PUHRINGER BY ML Z22. MYM

HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 3,370,824 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 3,370,824 PLUG-ACTUATING DEVICE FOR LADLES Otlunar Piihringer, Linz, Austria, assignor to Vereinigte Osterreichische Eisenund Stahlwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Linz, Austria, 21 company of Austria Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,549 Claims priority, application Austria, Aug. 3, 1964, A 6,676/64 1 Claim. (Cl. 251-62) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a self-contained plug-actuating system mounted on a ladle for receiving molten metal including a compressed gas tank for driving a gas-driven hydraulic pump to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to a cylinder by means of which the plug or stopper of the ladle is withdrawn to discharge the contents of the ladle,

Usually, ladles for metals are provided with one or two outlets in the bottom, which are closed by plug rods. These plug rods are mostly operated manually via a lever mechanism.

Obviously, this way of actuating has disadvantages, especially for steel ladles, as the manual operation with a steel melt of high temperature always ensues a certain risk and dangers for the operating personnel. It is therefore desired to provide for a mechanical actuation of the plug, and this demand has always been brought to the manufacturers of ladles. Also, a bottom-top ladle is known, the plug rod of which is operated hydraulically, the ladle being connected through hose lines with a pump aggregate on the crane or on the pouring platform. However, the necessary hose connection has to be re-established for each tapping of the ladle. This entrains not only time losses but, in the hot operation of the casting bay, also means hard work for the pouring team.

To overcome this diificulty it is proposed according to the invention, to get the ladle independent of pressure hoses by providing the ladle with a pressure gas store of sufiicient capacity in order to actuate the plug rod mechanically several times during tapping. The energy stored in the pressure gas store supplies the power necessary for the actuation of the plug rod in a manner known per se through an oil pressure cylinder. The pressure gas store is loaded by means of a compressor when inserting the plug rod into the ladle stand. Its operation is effected which is connected to the ladle at the pouring platform.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a side elevational view of a ladle having a plug-actuating device thereon embodying the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, an outlet in the bottom of the ladle 1 is closed by the plug rod 2. Operation of the plug rod is effected through a lever linkage 3 by means of an hydraulic cylinder 4 mounted on the ladle. Oil under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 4 by means of a pneumatically operated hydraulic pump 5 which is driven by means of gas under pressure supplied from the gas pressure storage tank 6. Control valves 7 and 8 which are actuated by means of a mechanical operating means 9, such as Bowden wires, serve to control the sup ply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 4.

The pressure gas storage tank 6 contains an amount of compressed gas sufiicient for actuating the plug rod to enable pouring at least one ladle charge. A valve 10 enables the gas pressure storage tank to be charged when, in the ladle stand, the plug rod is inserted.

What I claim is.

1. An actuating device for the plug rod of a ladle for receiving molten metals, comprising a plug rod for closing an outlet in the said ladle, a hydraulic cylinder for moving said rod to tap said ladle, a gas-actuated hydraulic fluid pump for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the cylinder to move said rod, storage tank for receiving gas under pressure and for supplying gas under pressure to actuate the pump, fluid flow conduits connecting said cylinder, pump and tank, valve means in a conduit connecting said tank and said pump for admitting and stopping the flow of gas from said tank to said pump, control means in the conduit connecting the pump and cylinder for regulating the supply of hydraulic fluid to said cylinder, said tank having a capacity for pressurized gas in an amount sufiicient to tap said ladle a plurality of times, and means for mounting said cylinder, pump and tank on said ladle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,993 11/1951 Sedgwick 5l 2,832,110 4/ 1958 Carleton 222-504 2,938,347 5/1960 Sturgis 6052 3,309,740 3/ 1967 Teplitz.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiner. 

